Corn detasseling machine



Sep. 23, 1947. E SAWTELL v2,427,746

CORN DETASSELLING MACHINE Filed July 1 5.. 1945 2 Sheets-Shed 1 kil M@ fw Sept. V23, 1947.

E. SAWTELL' CORN DETASSELLING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZF/Ven for Patented Sept. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for detasseling hybrid seed corn, and more particularly to a machine of this character adapted to be drawn over a field of standing corn and embodying vertical supports adapted to travel between the rows of corn and on which a person may stand for cutting the tassels from the corn as the machine passes over the eld.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this character by means of which several rows of standing corn may be detasseled simultaneously while the machine is passing between the rows of corn.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character -of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevational View.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View.

1Figure 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of one of the brake shoes with parts of the supporting frame shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a plurality of spaced parallel, longitudinally extending frame members supported at their front and rear ends on wheels `ii by means of yokes l having upstanding pins 9 journaled in the frame members for svvivelly mounting the wheels thereto.

Front and rear posts I and `II are attached to each of the longitudinal frame members and extend upwardly therefrom, the front and rear posts being supported by braces I2.

The upper portions of the front posts lu are connected by a pair of spaced transversely-extending frame members I3, and the upper portions of the rear posts I I are similarly connected by a pair of spaced transversely-extending frame members Ill. Extending longitudinally between the pair of posts I0 and Il arranged at each end and secured thereto are a pair of spaced frame members 25. The front and rear posts il! and I l connected together by means of the transverselyextending frame members I3 and I4, and the 1ongitudinally-extending frame members 26 form an overhead frame.

A seat I5 is attached to one of the front transversely extending frame members I3 at the center thereof to be occupied by the driver of the vehicle.

To the front edges of a pair of the intermediate front posts IE] are attached singletrees I6 to which horses may be attached for pulling the machine over a field of standing corn, the longitudinal frame members 5 and the front and rear posts lil and I I being adapted to pass between the rows of corn I1 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Pegs or rungs I8 project horizontally in vertically spaced arrangement from the opposite sides of the front posts IU so that a Workman may be supported on each of the front posts I9 in a manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings for cutting the tassels I9 from the corn by a sickle 2G or other suitable cutting implement as the machine travels along the rows of corn.

Accordingly, a plurality of the rows of corn may be detasseled simultaneously as the machine travels over the eld.

Positioned above one or more of the front wheels 6 is a brake shoe 2| pivoted at its front end on a pin 22 carried by the longitudinal frame member 5, the rear end of the brake shoe having a rod 23 pivotally attached thereto and extending upwardly through an opening 24 in the longitudinal frame member v5, the upper end of the rod being operatively connected to a lever 25 pivoted to the upper portion of one of the front posts I9 and within convenient reach by the driver of the vehicle.

The brake shoes 2| may be applied to check the forward movement of the machine when the latter is moving down hill.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A corn detasseling machine comprising a vehicle adapted to travel over a eld of standing corn, said Vehicle including a plurality of spacedapart longitudinally extending frame members, wheels supporting each of said frame members foi movement between rows of said eld of corn, a post rising from each of said frame members, and means carried by the post of each of said frame members for supporting a person thereon Within reach of the tassels of the corn for cutting the tassels therefrom.

2. A corn detasseling machine comprising a vehicle including a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally extending frame members, wheels supporting said frame members for movement between the rows of a standing eld of corn, a post rising from each of said frame members, and pegs projecting laterally from the post and adapted for supporting a. person in a position within reach of the tassels of the corn for cutting the tassels therefrom.

3. A corn detasseling machine comprising a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally extending frame members, wheels supporting the front and rear ends of each of said frame members 'for traveling between the rows of a standing field of corn, an overhead frame including a plurality of posts supported on said frame members and connected thereto, and a ladder structure on each of said posts within reach of the tassels oi the corn for cutting the tassels therefrom.

4. A corn detasseling machine comprising a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally extending frame members, wheels supporting the front and rear ends of each of said frame members, an overhead frame including posts supported on said frame members and connected thereto to thereby form a unitary structure for travel simultaneously between a plurality of rows of a standing eld of corn, and a ladder structure embodying a plurality of spaced laterally-projecting pegs on each of said posts adapted for supporting a person in position Within the reach of the tassels of the corn for cutting the tassels therefrom.

EDWARD SAWTELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,081,681 Seeber May 25, 1937 2,095,007 Pfister Oct. 5, 1937 1,370,347 Nelson Mar. 1, 1921 2,378,143 Jensen June 12, 1945 

